Bed for shaping sheet steel panels having spatial curvature

ABSTRACT

A bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels having spatial curvature wherein horizontally movable beams carry vertically movable uprights serving as bearings for the sheets to be welded. The uprights are located on each beam in two parallel rows in which each upright of one row is positioned opposite to the corresponding upright of the other row. The oppositely positioned uprights are interconnected through a hinged device supporting a flexible flux trough adapted to assume the shape of the panels to be welded.

United States Patent [1 1 Astapovich et al.

[ July 24, 1973 1 BED FOR SHAPllNG SHEET STEEL PANELS [56] References Cited HAVING SPATIAL CURVATURE UNITED STATES PATENTS [76] Inventors: Artem lvanovich Astapovich, ulitsa 2,176,664 10/1939 Burke 1l3/59 Mira, l7, kv, 24; Sergei 2,142,109 1/1939 Burke 29/469 X Alexandmvich Bognljubov, ulitsa 3,137,936 6/1964 Tomkins.... 223 50 x Shkolnaya, 6, 3 3,227,349 1/1966 Freder|ck. 228/50 X lvanovich Kuznetsov ulitsa Fnmze, 2,288,796 7/1942 Edwards 29/89 16, kv. 6; Oleg Dmitrievich Lupanov, prospekt Gaza, 17, 23; Ivan Prlr nary Examzr zerJ. Spencer Overholser Yakovlevich Pustovarin, ulitsa Assistant Examiner-Robert J. Craig Blokhina 25 kv Tamara Attorney-Waters, Roditi, Schwartz & Nissen Alexeevna Fedorovm, ulitsa Babushkina, 73, kv. 23, all of 1 ABSTRACT Lenin rad, U.S.S.R. A bed for sha in and weldin sheet steel anels havin g P g g P g [22] Filed Nov 12 1969 spatial curvature wherein horizontally movable beams carry vertically movable uprights serving as bearings [21] Appl. No.: 875,715 for the sheets to be welded. The uprights are located on each beam in two parallel rows in which each upright of one row is positioned opposite to the corresponding 29,200 3 5 upright of the other row. The oppositely positioned u Field 44 rights are interconnected through a hinged device sup- 29/200 J f 4 porting a flexible flux trough adapted to assume the shape of the panels to be welded.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures A l i 3 Y 3 s 5 a z 1 ii l (J I L) L n \1 l (I C; I 7 :j. I: 3 I :2: 7 8 2| H 2o 25 I l8 I5 I I5 4 The present invention relates to apparatus for shaping and welding sheet steel panels having spatial curvature.

It is most expedient for the panels made according to the invention, to be used in the shipbuilding industry for manufacturing sections of ship hulls such as, for example, sections of a side, bottom, deck and like eonstructions having spatial curvature.

Known in the prior art are beds for shaping and welding sheet steel panels for ship hull structures.

These beds are provided with beams which are movable horizontally. The beams support vertically movable uprights and are arranged in a single row.The uprights serve as bearings for the sheets to be welded.

Each upright in these beds is brought to the specified height separately to obtain the shape of the surface corresponding to that of the panel to be assembled on the bed.

When the sheets are joined together for welding purposes on the said beds, provision should be made for additional treatment and fitting operations on the edges of the sheets to be joined, or back support back welding of the panel joints. However, the edges of sheets with a spatial curvature cannot be joined with an accuracy required to obtain high-quality welded joints due to the fact that a suspension welding procedure is utilized, i.e., without the use of flux on the opposite side of the joint to be welded and a thorough mutual aligning of the sheet edges is required.

The fitting operations on the said beds for shaping and welding the panels take considerable time which is possibly equal to that required to shape and weld the panel.

Moreover, the shaping and welding operations on panels having spatial curvature are quite laborious.

An object of the present invention is to provide a bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels which makes it possible to weld by using flux pads and permits increased clearances in the joints and considerably reduces the labor required in shaping and welding panels without additional treatment and fitting operations being required on the edges of the sheets to be joined or back welded to the panel joints.

Another object of the present invention is to reduce the time required to prepare a bed for shaping and welding the panels by simultaneous extension of thrust uprights forming the shape of the bed to suit the shape of the panel. According to the above-mentioned and other objects, the present invention contemplates a bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels having spatial curvature, wherein horizontally movable beams support vertically movable uprights, the latter serving as bearings for the sheets to be welded and, according to the invention, the uprights on each beam are arranged in two parallel rows so that each upright of one row is positioned opposite the corresponding upright of the other row. Under these circumstances, the oppo sitely positioned uprights are linked to each other with a hinged arrangement carrying a flexible trough for flux and enabling it to be oriented to the shape of the joints of the sheets to be welded.

It is preferred that the arrangement for installing the flexible trough for flux be fitted with a suspension hinged to the two oppositely positioned uprights the suspension accommodating a rocker positioned transversely. The rocker ends carry hinged cheeks mounting roller supports which hold the trough for flux.

Such an embodiment enables the flux trough to be spatially turned so as to assume the shape and spatial position to fit the shape of the joint of the sheets to be welded.

It is also preferred that each upright be provided with an independent drive for moving it upwards. Through a transmitter, the drive is connected to a counter having a mechanism for setting a predetermined number of pulses and sending a signal to cut off the drive as this upright reaches the specified height.

Such a design of the drive used to move the uprights in addition to the counters enables the uprights to be moved vertically simultaneously and to be stopped in due time. This is very important for insuring serviceability of the flexible flux trough. In addition, the uprights being moved all at one time, this will greatly reduce the time required to prepare the bed for shaping and welding the panel.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is given hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels having spatial curvature.

FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a flexible trough on enlarged scale;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on line VV of FIG. 4 on enlarged scale;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along arrow A of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 shows an upright accommodated in the bed carrying an independent drive.

Rails 1 (FIGS. 1-3) support beams 2 which carry uprights 3, each beam carrying the uprights in two parallel rows. The uprights of one row are located opposite the corresponding uprights of the other row. The oppositely located uprights of the parallel rows are interconnected with devices 4 for installing flexible flux troughs 5.

Each flexible trough 5 consists of separate sections 6 (FIGS. 4-5) fitted on ropes 7 secured at the ends with clamps 8 and draw bolts 9.

Extending throughout the length of each trough is are elastic receptacle 10 in which welding flux 11 is poured. Under receptacle 10 is an elastic sleeve 12 supplied with compressed air for pressing the flux against the joint. The device 4 contains a suspension 13 hinged by means of pivots 14 to oppositely positioned uprights Suspension I3 is composed of two cheeks l5 rigidly interconnected through rib 16 (FIG. 6). Installed transversely on shaft 17 is a rocker I8 comprising two rigidly interconnected cheeks I9. Hinged at the ends of rocker I8 through pivot spindles 20 (FIG. 4) are saddles 21 having concave surfaces. Roller supports thrust against these surfaces. The roller supports are enclosed in box 23 (FIG. 6) accommodating rollers 24 resting against the concave surface of saddles 21 (FIG. 4).

Mounted at the bottom of the box are four shorter rollers 25 holding roller support 22 on saddle 21. The upper portion of the box mounts rollers 26 (FIG. 6) with flux trough 5 thrust thereagainst. Positioned above these rollers are two shorter rollers 27 securing trough to roller support 22.

To simultaneously move uprights 3 vertically, each of these is fitted with an independent drive comprising electric motor 28 (FIG. 7) connected to reduction gear 30 by means of coupling 29. Reduction gear 30 has a worm 31 engaged with a worm wheel 32. The worm wheel is installed on a vertically positioned output shaft 33 that serves as a drive screw for upright 3. Upright 3 has a key slot 34, whereas upright 2 supports a fixed bushing 35 with a key 36 which prevents upright 3 from turning while in motion. Each electric motor 28 is connected by means of switch 37 to a control desk (not shown) which is used to start simultaneously all electric motors 28.

Each upright rises to the specified height. To make upright 3 stop at the specified height drive 30 is fitted with electric pulse transmitter 38 and electric pulse counter 39 provided with a pulse setting a device 40 and with device 41 for sending signals to stop electric motor 28 after a specified number of pulses has been delivered.

The shaft of worm 31 a metal disc 42 interacting with transmitter 38. Electric pulse counter 39 is connected to switch 37 of electric motor 28.

The bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels and having spatial curvature operates as follows.

Beams 2 are mounted on carriages 43 (FIGS. 1-3) having running wheels 44 and the beams move along rails 1 by driving the carriages from two winches 45 (FIG. 1) with pull ropes 46 and engaging carriage 47 (FIG. 2) to the working position so the flexible flux troughs 5 are positioned at the locating point of the joints of the panel to be shaped and welded. A specified number of electric pulses is sent to electric pulse counters 39 (FIG. 7) through pulse setting device 70 corresponding to the specified number of revolutions of electric motors 28 so that each of uprights 3 protrudes to the specified height. The central control desk (not shown) is used to start electric motors 28. Uprights 3 start moving vertically. Moving together with the uprights 3 are the devices 4 the flexible flux troughs 5.

Should two oppositely positioned uprights 3 connected with device 4 stop moving at the same height, while the uprights installed nearby keep on moving to greater but equal heights, the arm of rocker 18 (FIG. 4) of uprights 3 that have stopped moving and located on the side of the protruding uprights will rise and lift saddle 21 with roller support 22 thus causing sections 6 lying on said roller support 22 of trough 5 to lift likewise. At the same time the opposite arm of rocker 18 lowers, thus forcing the saddle 21 attached to that arm downwardly and making roller support 22 move down together with sections 6 of trough 5 lying thereon. Thus, within the given area, trough 5 is held up with roller supports 22 secured to rocker 18 through saddle 21 and occupies the spatial position, as well as assumes the shape corresponding to the spatial position and the shape of the sheets to be laid down. As uprights 3 keep protruding, sections 6 of trough 5 move along rollers 26 (FIG. 5).

If upon reaching the specified height, one of the oppositely positioned uprights 3 stops protruding, and the other upright keeps on moving, suspension 13, when tilting, will tilt rocker 18 with saddles 21 and roller supports 22 (FIG. 4) secured thereon. As a result, sections 6 of trough 5 will tilt and assume the specified position.

If the uprights installed nearby continue protrucing at a greater and equal height the arm of their rocker 18 on the side of the uprights positioned at different uprights lowers and force saddle 21 down with roller support 22 thus letting sections 6 of trough 5 lying on said roller support 22 down. If the uprights move in that way the suspension connecting the oppositely positioned uprights of different heights tilts relative to the suspension connecting the oppositely positioned uprights of equal heights. Besides, the rockers turn about their shafts 17 (FIG. 6).

As a result of these movements, sections 6 of trough 5 turn in two planes in relation to each other on ropes 7.

When electric motors 28 are engaged simultaneously, all uprights 3 lift and stop from a signal of its own electric pulse counter 39, each upright assuming its own height, lifting and turning its respective device 4, thus orienting flexible flux trough 5 according to the shape of the joint of the sheets to be welded. Then, the sheets are laid down on the uprights, the joints are put in order and compressed air is supplied to elastic sleeve 12 to press the flux 11.

Against the joints to be welded after which the sheet panel is ready to be welded.

According to the present invention, due to flexible flux troughs, the bed enables the weld seam to be shaped on both sides during a single operation without having to weld the seam on the opposite side, and it excludes additional treatment and fitting of the edges of the sheets to be welded, the sheet having complicated spatial curvature as the flux rod welding allows the clearances between the edges of the sheets to be increased.

In addition, due to the fact that the electric motors of the upright protrusion drives are engaged from the control desk and each upright is provided with a pulse counter that separately stops the electric motor of each upright after it has been protruded to the specified height, the entire procedure saves, considerable time for preparing the bed for the sheets to be laid down.

What is claimed is:

l. A bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels having spatial curvature, said bed comprising a plurality of parallel, horizontal beams supported for horizontal displacement, uprights serving as bearings for the panels to be welded, means mounting said uprights on the beams for vertical displacement, the uprights being located on each respective beam in two parallel rows in which each upright in one row is positioned opposite a corresponding upright of the other row, suspension devices hingeably interconnecting respective pairs of oppositely positioned uprights, and a flexible flux trough supported on the suspension devices and extending therethroughout for assuming a shape imparted thereto by the position of the uprights for corresponding to the shape of the panels to be welded.

2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein each suspension device comprises a member having opposite ends pivotably connected to the associated uprights, a transverse rocker pivotably connected to the latter member and having opposite ends, and a saddle pivotably coupled to the rocker at each end thereof, and roller means on said saddle carrying said flux trough.

3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 comprising an independent drive means for moving each upright vertically, and control means for each drive means.

drive of the drive means such that when the uprights reach their desired vertical position the drive means is stopped. 

1. A bed for shaping and welding sheet steel panels having spatial curvature, said bed comprising a plurality of parallel, horizontal beams supported for horizontal displacement, uprights serving as bearings for the panels to be welded, means mounting said uprights on the beams for vertical displacement, the uprights being located on each respective beam in two parallel rows in which each upright in one row is positioned opposite a corresponding upright of the other row, suspension devices hingeably interconnecting respective pairs of oppositely positioned uprights, and a flexible flux trough supported on the suspension devices and extending therethroughout for assuming a shape imparted thereto by the position of the uprights for corresponding to the shape of the panels to be welded.
 2. A bed as claimed in claim 1, wherein each suspension device comprises a member having opposite ends pivotably connected to the associated uprights, a transverse rocker pivotably connected to the latter member and having opposite ends, and a saddle pivotably coupled to the rocker at each end thereof, and roller means on said saddle carrying said flux trough.
 3. A bed as claimed in claim 1 comprising an independent drive means for moving each upright vertically, and control means for each drive means.
 4. A bed as claimed in claim 3, wherein said control means comprises an electric pulse counter means for stopping the drive means, a transmitter means operated by the drive means and coupled to the pulse counter means to send pulses thereto in accordance with the drive of the drive means such that when the uprights reach their desired vertical position the drive means is stopped. 